Perry also ordered the flags lowered on the day Gallegos is buried. He also ordered flags lowered in Houston, Harris County and the Houston lawmaker’s Senate District 6 continuously until the day Gallegos is buried.

The staunch Democrat had represented Senate District 6 in Harris County since 1995, having served in the Texas House the previous four years. He developed a reputation for toughness in 2007 when he showed up in the Senate chamber shortly after a liver transplant to vote against a photo ID requirement to vote.